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Irish Times

Diplomatic efforts continuing in bid to help Irish citizens in Iran and Israel

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has said intensive consular work is ongoing to assist Irish citizens who want to leave Israel and Iran . There is a particular concern about the safety of diplomats in Iran. Ireland is working with other partners about potential routes out. Mr Harris, the Tánaiste, has held talks with the foreign affairs ministers of Saudi Arabia and Jordan over what he termed the 'increasingly dangerous' situation unfolding in the Middle East. Mr Harris spoke by phone to the Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi. READ MORE 'We discussed the crisis between Iran and Israel and the urgent need for de-escalation and diplomacy,' Mr Harris said. 'We also agreed on the need to maintain international focus on the deplorable situation in Gaza and the West Bank . I will continue to engage with regional partners in support of a return to stability and peace.' Regarding the safety of Irish citizens in the region, Mr Harris said there were 29 in Iran they were aware of, with about 12 dependants. 'And if they do wish to leave, we are working with other countries in terms of putting safe routes in place,' he said. 'In relation to Israel, there are more Irish citizens in Israel – in and around 200 – and we're working with other European countries in terms of the potential of [their] getting to Egypt or Jordan and being able to take flights from there.' In discussions with the Jordanian and Saudi ministers, he pointed to Iran being set to attend talks in Geneva on Friday, which is seen as crucial for any breakthrough. Ireland will be represented at the meeting by the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. The UK will also be in attendance. Speaking earlier, Mr Harris said: 'It is not possible to overstate the serious moment of danger, not just in Iran and in Israel, but indeed in the broader region and indeed in relation to global security. 'We need Iran and Israel to step back from the brink.' 'I think that is a really important moment to try to get to a position where we can get Iran back to the negotiating table in relation to its nuclear programme.' Mr Harris said the war between Israel and Iran was happening against a backdrop of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. 'The genocide is still continuing in Gaza. It is an extraordinarily dangerous situation, and the ongoing challenge in Gaza is still obviously persisting, and the world can't forget Gaza either,' he said. Separately, Taoiseach Micheál Martin , Mr Harris and most members of the Cabinet will travel to a North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday to meet First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and members of the Northern Ireland Executive. It is the first plenary in years when both administrations will have published their programmes for government and it allows for a more substantive agenda than in recent summits. Mr Martin has urged all ministers to engage with Northern counterparts since the new government was formed and he has highlighted the potential of the increased funding of the Shared Island Initiative.